T20 World Cup | SA vs SL: David Miller overshadows Wanindu Hasaranga's hat-trick to take Proteas home

It took South Africa’s David Miller just two deliveries to change the complexion of the game between the Proteas and Sri Lanka and re-establishing his calibre, the left-hander smacked a couple of maximums on the trot in the final over of Lahiru Kumara.

Needing 15 in the last over, Miller and Kagiso Rabada completed the task on the penultimate delivery of the match to steal a win by 4 wickets in Sharjah. South Africa didn’t really start off the chase in a steady manner and kept losing wickets at regular intervals but it was captain Temba Bavuma who held the fort at the other side. 

The Proteas were 49/3 when Bavuma was joined by Aiden Markram at the crease and the two batters chipped in with a partnership of 47 runs for the fourth wicket. But what unleashed next simply pushed the South African side on the back foot. 

Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasaranga cleaned up Markram for 19 off 20 at the end of the 15th over. 

The right-arm bowler then returned back in the 18th over to dismantle the middle and lower middle-order as he first removed Bavuma for a run-a-ball 46 after he was caught in the deep by Nissanka and then completed the hat trick after scalping the wicket of Dwaine Pretorious on the very next delivery. Hasaranga became the second bowler after Curtis Campher to pick up a hat trick in this T20 World Cup. 

But just when everyone thought that the job was done, Miller showed up in his true class and helped his side pull a rabbit out of the hat. While Miller eventually remained unbeaten at 23 off 13, Rabada chipped in with 13* off 7 during the course. Hasaranga was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka as he returned with figures of 3/20 in 4 overs. 

Earlier, in the day, the Sri Lankan batting unit didn’t really get in the groove as they lost wickets at regular intervals and it was the lone warrior Pathum Nissanka, who held his nerves and went on to score 72 off 58 during the course. However, he fell short of partners at the other end as the Lankan lions were bundled out for 142 in 20 overs. Tabraiz Shamsi and Pretorious picked up three wickets each while Nortje scalped a couple for the side. 

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma lauded Miller for his knock and taking the team over the line. 

“It's hard to keep everything at the back of my mind, and we had a job to do. We took it deep and it was a good thing that we managed to get over the line. David hasn't done that for us in a while, and it's great that he came good at the right time,” he said in the post-match presentation. 

Sri Lanka will now play England in Sharjah on Monday while South Africa will be up against Bangladesh on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi.